Pacquiao Loses Contract with Nike, Twitter Followers Over Gay Comment

Post by Peace Ezebuiro

Popular Filipino boxer, politician and philanthropist, Manny Pacquiao is seriously going in for a comment he recently made in his home country, in which he said “homosexuals are worse than animals”, as the statement has so far cost him his contract with Nike, as well as millions of his twitter followers.

The comment which he made in a video posted by TV5’s election site enraged the gay community and has also sparked off huge controversies on social media platforms.

It’s common sense,” he said. “Do you see animals mating with the same sex? Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female. If men mate with men and women mate with women they are worse than animals.”

Although he later apologized for hurting people, Pacquiao unshakably maintains his stand, stressing that he is saying the truth according to God’s word as recorded in the Bible. The 37 year-old boxer has in most of his recent posts and comments presented himself as a conservative Christian.

I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt. I still stand on my belief that I’m against same sex marriage because of what the Bible says, but I’m not condemning LGBT. I love you all with the love of the Lord. God Bless you all and I’m praying for you.”

Consequent to this, Nike has terminated its contract with the boxer. Nike released a statement on Wednesday that read:

We find Manny Pacquiao’s comments abhorrent. Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community. We no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiao.”

Moreover, as earlier related, he has lost most of his twitter followers. According to reports, his twitter followership of over 2 million drastically reduced to about 10,000.

Pacquiao’s twitter followers who went back from following completely counted as dung all they knew about him before now as they started seeing him from another point of view, and with much hatred. They completely forgot all his fame and exploits in boxing, as well as his latest philanthropic gesture which earned him their love and following.

We are yet to know what will be the famous boxer’s reaction to this singular defaming incident.